Many very sick people have spent several years working to get
legislation to protect our medical care by stopping the OPMC from taking
the licenses from our doctors.

We are on the verge of passing this legislation. We finally got it out
of committee and hope it will come to a floor vote next week before the
legislature adjourns.

We have an opportunity to get press for this tomorrow in Downing Park.
That should help us get the bill passed next week. It should also give
us a good head start with the governor.

BUT a poor showing at a press conference could backfire pretty badly.

SO IN HONOR OF THE MANY PEOPLE WHO SPENT YEARS WORKING ON THIS AND ARE
NOW TOO SICK TO COME, PLEASE SHOW UP TOMORROW AT THE RALLY/PRESS
CONFERENCE.

The legislative session ends on Tuesday. The bills are still in committee. BUT,
they could come out and be voted on and pass before Tuesday - as
crazy as that might sound.. We need to go all out to let them know we
are not going to go away.
We have an EXCELLENT chance of getting one of the bills if we do.

I think you will have good weather and wish you a great turnout.

quote:

---

Originally posted by lymemomtooo:
,
Our prayers are with you. We all owe you and others a great debt of gratitude for your diligence and activism.

---

AMEN!

I've had family and friends write to Pataki from all over the US and from Europe.

Please let us know how it went when you have time...

Much love to each of you,
Melanie

I did get there and am very glad I did, though I have been down for the count since friday until this morning.

It was very good to see those who were able to attend; it is also wonderful to hear the passion and committment from legislators speaking on our behalf...that alone is a wonderful success.

mammalyme; I remember from a few years ago all that you did and the material you conveyed to me regarding this issue and others; thanks for your neverending dedication, and Lovette's as well. I was very disappointed that I could not come this June again, but I will keep trying and sooner or later I'll see you in person.

Mel; thanks for all your work; I even got your email action alerts .

Anne; I was fortunate to be able to meet by phone and be in contact with Betty for the very first lobby and when I did the legal defense fund advocating; I and 3 other people organized that very first lobby which included other states. Betty was a wonderful help, a lovely person, and a remarkable lyme advocate. She and many others were certainly instrumental in pulling such a large event off.

To all of you who are getting others to call, keeping up the threads, thanks so very much. Ellen is likely going to look like popcorn by tomorrow, so all your help is doing more than you know.

I've not been in any kind of real shape to do all that needs to be done; please get this out to all the boards; lovey, lymeaid, sci med; whatever.

Since there's been a few entries; I'm reposting the latest action alert as issued by Ellen on Saturday.

Please feel free to respost the below information everywhere you can:

Please regard the next 30 hours or so as a true Lyme emergency.

The OPMC Reform bill , now numbered S4148, is out of committee and can
be brought up for floor vote in the Senate before it adjourns tomorrow.

HOWEVER, there are many other bills waiting to be voted on , so getting
our bill brought up for a vote will be very difficult. Monica says it
will be like getting it through the eye of needle

That means is that every single Lyme patient and doctor across the
country . or world, needs to act NOW.

A) FOR ALL LYME PATIENTS IN ALL STATES:
Please call and email Governor George Pataki right away. Telephone
messages can be left on his answering machine.

Both telephone and email messages
can be as short as "Please pass S4148 to reform the OPMC". Leave your
name and address on the phone messages..

Telephone:
518-474-8390

To Email The Governor:
Click on http://161.11.3.75/
Scroll down on the page this brings you to, and there is a form on which
to submit your email.

B) FOR NEW YORKERS ONLY:
1) HANNON: Email Senator Kemp Hannon and call and leave a message on his
answering machine.

Messages should thank him for sponsoring S4148, the OPMC Reform bill,
AND urge him to have the bill brought up for a vote before the end of
session. GIve name and address.

Email:
[email protected]

Phone:
518-455-2200

2) BRUNO: Call (answering machine) and email Senator Joseph Bruno. Urge
him to bring S4148 , the OPMC Reform bill , to the floor for a vote.
Leave name and address.

Telephone:
518-455-3191

Email:
Go to www.senatorbruno.com/send_email.asp There is a form on which to
send an email.

3) PATAKI: Please call and email Governor Pataki. Give your name
and address.

Telephone:
518-474-8390

To Email The Governor:
Click on http://161.11.3.75/
Scroll down on the page and there is a form on which to submit your
email.

Thanks,
Ellen
For more information see www.healthlobby.com or www.lymeinfo.net